On a seemingly routine journey from the majestic Niagara Falls back to the bustling streets of New York City, a tour bus carrying 54 passengers veered into catastrophe on Interstate 90 near Pembroke, New York, on Friday, August 22, 2025. The vibrant hum of tourists—families, friends, and adventurers ranging from 1 to 74 years old—was silenced when the bus, operated by M&Y Tour Inc. of Staten Island, lost control, overturned, and plunged into a roadside ditch. The crash, which unfolded just before Exit 48A, claimed five lives and left dozens injured, marking it as one of the most devastating incidents in recent memory along this stretch of the New York State Thruway.
The bus, traveling eastbound at full speed, swerved into the median, overcorrected, and careened across the southern shoulder before rolling over. The violent tumble shattered windows, scattered belongings, and ejected passengers, leaving a scene of chaos described by witnesses as heart-wrenching. “There was glass all over the road and people’s stuff all over the road,” recounted Powell Stephens, a driver who passed the wreckage. The absence of seat belts for most passengers, as noted by Trooper James O’Callaghan, amplified the tragedy, with many thrown from their seats during the high-speed rollover. Contrary to early reports, no children were among the deceased, a small mercy in an otherwise grim toll.
New York State Police identified the victims on Saturday, painting a poignant picture of lives cut short. Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, from Madhu Bani, India, was among those lost, alongside Pinki Changrani, 60, of East Brunswick, New Jersey, and Zhang Xiaolan, 55, and Jian Mingli, 56, both of Jersey City, New Jersey. The youngest victim, 22-year-old Xie Hongzhuo, a Columbia University student from Beijing, China, left her academic community reeling. Columbia University issued a heartfelt statement, expressing devastation and pledging support to her family and peers: “This heartbreaking loss is felt deeply across our community. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with her family, friends, and all who have been touched by this tragedy.”
The driver, 55-year-old Bin Shao of Flushing, New York, survived the crash and has been cooperative with authorities. Preliminary investigations suggest distraction led to the loss of control, though mechanical failure and impairment have been ruled out. “We believe we have a good idea of what happened,” O’Callaghan stated, though no charges have been filed as the investigation continues. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has dispatched a “go-team” to probe the incident, working alongside state police and the New York State Department of Transportation Motor Carrier Compliance Bureau to uncover the full circumstances.
The crash’s aftermath saw a massive, coordinated response from emergency services. Eight Mercy Flight helicopters and 17 ground EMS units ferried 19 patients to hospitals, with others transported by additional means. Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) in Buffalo received 24 patients, two requiring trauma ICU care and two undergoing surgery, though all are expected to recover. Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester treated six patients, two in critical condition, while Oishei Children’s Hospital cared for three children, one in serious condition. Buffalo General Medical Center and Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital also opened their doors, with Kaleida Health reporting 20 patients across their facilities, most in good or fair condition. By Sunday, ECMC noted 11 patients remained in stable condition, with one discharge expected, while the University of Rochester Medical Center reported one patient released and three others stable.
The human toll was felt deeply across diverse communities, as most passengers hailed from Indian, Chinese, and Filipino backgrounds. Translators were brought to the scene and hospitals to bridge language barriers, ensuring families could navigate the chaos. The American Red Cross stepped in, arranging for discharged patients to be sheltered at a senior center in Amherst, New York, offering a small measure of comfort amid the tragedy.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, briefed on the incident, expressed solidarity on X: “My team is coordinating closely with @nyspolice and local officials who are working to rescue and provide assistance to everyone involved.” The crash shut down all lanes of I-90, with westbound lanes reopening by Friday evening, though eastbound lanes remained closed, causing significant delays. Authorities urged drivers to seek alternate routes and called for witnesses or dash cam footage to aid the investigation, reachable at SP Batavia (585) 344-6200.
The Pembroke crash joins a somber list of tour bus tragedies in New York, from a 2002 incident near Victor that killed five to a 2023 crash in Pennsylvania claiming two lives. As the community mourns, the focus remains on healing, answers, and honoring the memory of those lost in this harrowing moment on I-90.